Karl Dorrell ’87

Coach Karl Dorrell ’87 knows football. He also knows that practice makes perfect. Known for his optimism, Dorrell worked his players hard during Thanksgiving break 2006, and put together a three-game winning streak, including an upset victory over crosstown rival USC.

In 2006, his fourth season as head coach of the UCLA football team, Dorrell has taken the fledgling program he inherited two years ago to the forefront of college football. The 2005 season saw the UCLA football team win 10 games, something the team accomplished just seven times before in its history. He was named 2005 Pac-10 Coach of the Year by his peers.

Experience has helped Dorrell create a stronger team. One of the top wide receivers in UCLA history, Dorrell played high school football in Alameda, Calif., and received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA while completing a stellar football career. During this time he helped UCLA defeat USC four times in five years and made 108 receptions, tied no. 11 on UCLA’s all-time career receiving list.

Upon completion of his degree, Dorrell pursued a professional career with the Dallas Cowboys, spending the 1987 preseason in Texas before being placed on the injured list. Consequently, he spent the next 15 years coaching on the collegiate level. From 1993 to 1999, Dorrell assisted the Denver Broncos coaching staff during training camp through the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship program. He also was offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Colorado, after which he spent the 1999 season at the University of Washington.

On his 38 th birthday, Dorrell was hired as UCLA’s 15 th head coach after spending three years coaching the Denver Broncos’ wide receivers. Now as head coach of his alma mater, Dorrell is providing the UCLA football team with guidance and a hard-work ethic that will continue to spearhead UCLA’s impressive football program.